October minutes

Minutes of the Executive Committee of Bushman’s River Mouth Ratepayers’ Organisation Meeting held on 29 October 2021 at 09:00 at 14 Krogscheepers Street Bushman’s River Mouth

1. Welcome

Lӧtter Wepener welcomed those present.

2. Attendance register and apologies

In attendance: Lӧtter Wepener, Jacques de Wit, Ferenc Toth, Sarel Marais.
Apologies: Jack Dell, Dalien Pachonick and Wanda Nezar, Gibbon Schickerling.

3. Confirmation of previous minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 17 September 2021 be approved, and the chairman be authorised to sign them.

4. Correspondence

1. Correspondence received / matters arising.
   A letter regarding potholes was received from George Simpson and the matter was attended to.
   The municipality advised that it is looking into appointing a bylaw officer for Ndlambe. It was noted that one bylaw officer will be wholly inadequate.
2. Correspondence issued.
   A letter was sent to the municipality in relation to the illegal structure at the RB entrance.
   A letter regarding illegal signage was also sent.
   No responses were received. RESOLVED that Lotter and Jacques to put together a short agenda and arrange a meeting with the municipal manager.
   RESOLVED that Lotter to telephone Mr Klaas about the bylaw issues. The heap of white appliances in Scheepers Street should also be addressed.
3. Correspondence to be sent out / responses.
   See 4.2

5. Municipal Matters

1. Legal Issues
   A duplicate vehicle registration certificate is still awaited. Jacques will follow up with the appropriate director.
   Water and sewage management: Both these service areas are in dire straits. Jacques is combining forces with KOSRA, Estuary Care, Chamber of Business and others to form a group (The Service Delivery Support Group (SDSG) of interested parties that will collaborate with Amatola, Department of Water Affairs and Ndlambe to attempt to secure better service delivery.

    

   Roads: Jacques is attempting to get a plan in place, but it is meeting with much laxity on the side of Ndlambe.

   Information boards: the information boards have been approved and will hopefully be in place by December. There may be delay with the SanParks board and we may have to consider funding it.

   It was reiterated that our staff must be UIF registered, and contracts entered for purposes of the Compensation Commissioner. Lotter will attend. Jacques advised that Errol Nightingale offered a storage room for the BRRAG equipment. The goods will be moved as soon as the room is made available. At that stage it will also be possible for our staff members to report and clock out at the shop. In the meantime, Frans Wessels will have the keys to the clubhouse and monitor the staff work days for November.

6. Finance

1. Income and expenditure.
   The income / expenses were not yet available and will be scrutinised at the next meeting. However, it was noted that the December guard support was slow and non-existent in Riversbend.
2.  Ferenc reported that the fire tender is in working condition and housed in the emergency centre. The chamber of business also acquired a fire tended for use by our local communities. It was suggested that we look at acquiring the additional water tank that is for sale in Alexandria. The new camaras at the ablution block and sea car park will be installed shortly.

7. Village Maintenance

1. Grass cutting and bush clearing.
   All work is ongoing and the Village is looking good.
2. Road markings and street signs
   Road painting has been completed.
3. Manalek must be contacted to check the connection of the Christmas lights.

8. Village Infrastructure

1. Ward Committee: Nothing to report.
2. Municipal IDP: Nothing to report but noted that it is very important to give input in this document.
3. Ablution blocks
   These will be inspected, repaired and locked for the December holiday.
4. Water, sewers, and storm water drainage
   The SDSG (above) is following up on the water and sewer plants. The huge effort by Jacques was noted and appreciated. The lack of maintenance was the main and major problem. Corrective measures are in the pipeline.
5. Car parks and slipway
   The dune sand as closed the road to the sea. Jacque advised that Ndlambe has undertaken to open the road to the sea before the holiday season.

9. Riversbend

Nothing additional.

10. Security

1. Liaison with Hi-Tec
   Nothing to report.
2. Security incidents
   Nothing to report.
3. Camera fund
   Nothing to report.
4. Security fence maintenance
   Nothing to report.
5. Liaison with SAPS / CPF
   Nothing to report.
6. Liaison with local security groups
   Ferenc gave an overview of the security situation and reported that all is going as well as can be expected. The camera monitoring by residents will hopefully commence from January 2022.

11. Fire fighting

See above.

12. Website

Nothing to report.

13. Newsletter

Committee members should forward articles to Lӧtter.

14. Estuary Care

The possibility for EC to again sell boat licences have been mooted.

15. Ndlambe Ratepayers’ Forum

The Forum needs support and strengthening. They are looking into the manner in which Ndlambe is calculating rates and the issue will be discussed in the future.

16. Chamber of Business

Nothing new.

17. Any other business

A drive to recruit committee members is required.
The Anglican Church is sponsoring food parcels in certain areas and a pamphlet to advise residents of it will soon be distributed. Residents are encouraged to support the soup kitchens rather than give hand-outs at their houses.
Jacques reported that there is co-operation amongst all the relevant associations to look at traffic calming measures from the Kenton Eco Estate to the Boknes turn-off.
Jacques will discuss the buoys in the River that encroaches on the small swimming area with Fanie Fouche / Willem Nel.

18. Closure and next meeting

The next meeting will be held on 7 December 2021.

The meeting closed at 12h00

Dated on 7 December 2021

Chairman